Loudoun approves transportation plan

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 4 Tuesday to approve a countywide transportation plan after years of planning.

"It's been a long, long haul," said board Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large), who cast one of the dissenting votes.

The plan -- which has been intensely debated throughout each county district -- attempts to address the transportation needs of residents and businesses for the next 20 years.

Dozens of residents and business leaders attended a public input session Monday with the majority voicing support of expanded transportation options, but not at the cost of impairing the quality of life for residents.

"People aren't leaving Loudoun County. The county is not getting smaller," said Sherry Garvin, president of Leesburg Pharmacy. "We need to invest in roads that will fit for many years to come."

Before the final vote, board supervisors Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling District) and Lori Waters (R-Broad Run District) tried to introduce additional amendments to accommodate the transportation plan for neighboring Prince William County, but both motions were defeated.

Delgaudio said he would vote against the entire plan because too many roads were removed from the plan. "It is a crazy, crazy collection of opinions that's in a head-on collision with reality," he said.

Board supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles District) said he was not comfortable with the plan and wanted to postpone the vote until a later date. ""I think we could've done a better job with this overall," he said.

The board supervisors who opposed the plan were Delgaudio, York, Miller and Susan Buckley (D-Sugarland Run District). Some supervisors who voted for the plan did so reluctantly.

"I'll support it," said board supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge District) "Although I'm not too excited about it."

-- Timothy Wilson